Windwalker

I think youve mixed up two separate issues. Everyone accepts that political parties and individuals will make statements about what they can offer and what they hope to achieve, this helps us decide who we might vote for. This is a completely different issue from the SNPs backhand attempts to basically say, you won’t get anything unless you vote our man in. Most of the SNP top dogs have suggested this and in my opinion that’s where the threats and blackmail lie. Policies are one thing but their vail attempts to persuade us that things can only get better if we vote in Wills is completely unacceptable.

Couldn’t agree more, and I was delighted to see that the candidates had condemned the act of vandalism. Who ever did this and whatever their motives or political persuasion, should be ashamed, but a big round of applause and respect for the volunteers who stood and cleaned it off in quick time.

SNPs Derek Mackay made the following comments according to the article on Shetland News. “Asked if Shetland could expect the full £7.9 million Shetland Islands Council has asked for should islanders vote for the SNP candidate, Mackay said he was not prepared to set out Scotland’s budget in this interview. But he added: “Do I think that Shetland’s hand will be strengthened by the election of Tom Wills? Yes I do. And do I believe there will be further progress on the internal ferries issue with Tom Wills as MSP? Yes I do.” This again smacks of you have to be part of our club or your getting nowt. I see these type of remarks as nothing other than a firm of blackmail and bullying islanders into voting for them. They should be ashamed of themselves.

I remember it well, but that democracy, Shetland would be no better under an independent Scotland, they will also strip us bare.

My main issue with the SNP has been independence and their obsession with it, despite the country telling them they didn’t want it at the last referendum. But after seeing the way they are conducting this by-election campaign, I’m now more concerned at what I see as heavy handed, over the top tactics, which seems to be the SNPs way of operating. Whilst it seems the rest of the candidates are very much in charge of their own campaigns, the same cannot be said for Tom Wills. Clearly the SNP bosses are in charge of his campaign. this tells us all we need to know about how the SNP will treat Shetland in the future no matter how genuine Tom feels about his policies.

Really? Du is actually offended by posters? Only if their SNP

I see lots of new SNP posters stuck to lampposts around us over the weekend, they must have had a second delivery. Now if the chap who complained that the queens picture in the Irish parliament offended him was awarded a lump of cash, I wonder if I could get the same as these SNP posters on all the lampposts offend me. Perhaps they could have put a proportion of the money they’ve thrown at this by-election towards keeping the Sandwick nursery, now that would have been money well spent. A vote for the SNP is a vote for independence, and if you think Brexit has been a disaster, just wait for the years of upheaval that would follow should the SNP win a future independence vote. I will never understand a party who fights so hard for independence from the uk, yet so desperately wants to be ruled by the conditions of the EU. I can however understand why they are keeping stumm about independence during this election, you don’t see any mention of their top priority wish on any of their posters or leaflets, wonder why.

Luckily I haven’t seen them near my door, they would have gotten a short shift.

It’s a good point Ghostie, it does seem that the top dogs have taken over the campaign and its no longer about the local candidate.

I see as well as having two visits from Nicola Sturgen, we are having a 2nd visit from the deputy leader along with MEP Christian Allard, then to be followed by Westminster leader Ian Blackford. It is unbelievable the money the SNP are throwing at this, pity they can’t find the time to come up when issues like airport parking charges are being discussed.. According to the Sunday Times, they say the SNP have run a highly visible campaign, importing teams of activists from the mainland. That’s maybe the group Ghostie saw around his neighbourhood. This all smacks of more than just desperation to win a local by-election !!!

Your likely right Capeesh, but what’s obvious is the “suggestion” is made to feel more like a threat. If you don’t vote SNP, your not going to be listened too.

Yes I’m sure your correct, and I believe Tom Wills is a fine man. It’s the SNP Top dogs I wouldn’t trust for one minute. Most of the things Tom will fight for have been on the agenda for a while, nothing new. But we have been ignored so far. Now if your telling me we will get them because we vote in an snp candidate, then that tells you all you need to know about the Scottish Government. They are meant to govern for the whole of Scotland not just those places that vote for them.

Thanks Peeriebryan

According to the Scottish Herald they state that the SNP deputy is under fire for voter warning after he appeared to threaten voters with poorer public services if they don’t back them in the by-election. (Sorry don’t know how to link it but it’s on the news page) (Moderator edit - we’ll post the link for you) https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17843237.snp-deputy-fire-voter-warning-shetland/ He’s stated as saying ‘that if a candidate from another party won the Shetland seat they would not have real influence with our Scottish Government. “ This is why the people of Shetland should show them that we are not interested in their political threats and vote for anyone except the SNP. They need to be reminded that a lot of the cash they have to spend comes from the Shetland economy, yet they hit us the hardest with their cuts and break their promises. They have thrown everything they can at the by-election but also feel the need to try and blackmail us into voting for them. This is a party who shown little interest in Shetland until this last few weeks and all their propaganda and tons of leaflets coming through our doors, forgets to highlight their main agenda. Independence. We need a Shetland voice in Edinburgh, not an Edinburgh voice in Shetland (pinched from a quote by Beatrice Wishart in the same article). If the SNP think for one minute that they can bully Shetland into voting for them, they obviously don’t know us very well.

Tom Wills' team have gone a bit OTT and in your face. It's like the daffodils have had a second sproot this year and climbed the lampposts.Smacks of desperation to me, everywhere you look you see his face. I doot someone is throwing a lot of money at his campaign. Wonder if I could get away with advertising my business on every lamp post for the next two weeks

Your right, but what party is in government ?

I think your strong aversion to Westminster is blinkering your view of how the SNP will sell us up the river to get what they want. I for one hope Shetland doesn't end up with an SNP MSP. No disrespect to Tom Wills. I’m just totally against Scottish independence. Now, Shetland independence is a different matter.

And do you honestly think if the SNP gets in that they and the EU will not bleed us dry just the same?

Yeah it’s just a pity that politicians on all sides of the debate try to play with and twist the truth for their own aims. But unfortunately that politics.

I don't think you'll find many French, German, Italians, Danes, Spaniards, Dutch, Belgians, Irish etc etc saying their countries aren't independent, to suggest they've given up their independence to become members of the EU and that there's no difference between them and the nations within the UK imho is unbelievable. Unless of course Scotland remains in the EU who the UK government are currently desperate to get favourable trading agreements with. I just have to look at the likes of Denmark and Ireland (small European independent nations without the rich resources we enjoy),flourishing and having their interests protected and nurtured as EU members. The UK in comparison, as far as I'm concerned is taking backward steps with Brexit, harking back to the long gone days of Empire, becoming more anti foreigner and insular, not what I want for my kids to grow up with, sorry you disagree. I believe they've governed well, of course there are ppl like yourself who disagree, such is life in a democracy, people change their views, opinions and ideals all the time, democracy never stands still, I, for instance have voted Labour and Lib/dem in the past, thankfully we can express our views at the ballot box. or the opposite is true, their opponents are trying to use their stance on independence to undermine a genuine desire from Tom Wills to work for the benefit of Shetland. I don't think you'll find many French, German, Italians, Danes, Spaniards, Dutch, Belgians, Irish etc etc saying their countries aren't independent, to suggest they've given up their independence to become members of the EU and that there's no difference between them and the nations within the UK imho is unbelievable. Unless of course Scotland remains in the EU who the UK government are currently desperate to get favourable trading agreements with. I just have to look at the likes of Denmark and Ireland (small European independent nations without the rich resources we enjoy),flourishing and having their interests protected and nurtured as EU members. The UK in comparison, as far as I'm concerned is taking backward steps with Brexit, harking back to the long gone days of Empire, becoming more anti foreigner and insular, not what I want for my kids to grow up with, sorry you disagree. I believe they've governed well, of course there are ppl like yourself who disagree, such is life in a democracy, people change their views, opinions and ideals all the time, democracy never stands still, I, for instance have voted Labour and Lib/dem in the past, thankfully we can express our views at the ballot box. or the opposite is true, their opponents are trying to use their stance on independence to undermine a genuine desire from Tom Wills to work for the benefit of Shetland.It seems a case of one rule suits your argument for re-joining the EU but the opposite when staying in the UK. I hear dee !

I take your point, but most people getting a voting slip assumes they are voting for what’s on the slip and they accept the majority comes out on top. They don’t think when they have been asked to vote, that it will only be counted as advisory when it clearly doesn't say that on the slip, nor did any of the news articles mention this at the time if voting. Funny it’s just come to light now.

What I find ironic is the SNP wants independence and to leave the UK then states they will join the EU and be subject to all their rules, having to accept the euro, their laws etc. Hypocrisy at its best. If they think Brexit has been difficult, wait until the difficulties of agreeing a divorce from the UK starts. You seem to put the blinkers on and forgot that Scotland, in its once in a generation vote, voted to remain as part of the UK. As for what they’ve achieved, this is only what they should be doing, but you don’t mention the negatives. Nurseries closing, higher taxes, poor transport, electricity poverty, I could go on. It’s easy to highlight a few things they have achieved but perhaps if they would set independence to one side for a generation as promised and put their efforts into governing the country, they could achieve even more, then they might even get my vote. At the moment I’m looking at broken promises and a load of waffle whist they desperately try to get their candidate elected, not to benefit Shetland, but to bolster their argument for independence

Unbelievable, most people who vote, believe that the decision of that vote will be the outcome, they don’t trawl through the net looking for any clauses hidden in the small print. When you are asked to vote you except that the majority will come out on top. Well that is unless it’s the SNP, who blatantly ignore the vote of the people, stick their fingers in their ears and go nah nah nah, we’re not listening.

yes then they will take us out of the union, struggle to join the EU, hit us with the euro, and wont be able to make ends meet. Then all you think they are promising, will be out the window, along with hefty rises in taxes to pay for it all. They can only see one goal which is independence and meantime they have forgotten to get on with governing the country, the sooner a new party us elected the better.

I was thinking the same Muckle Oxters. Seems a bit strange for a local msp candidate to state they are not interested in discussing any local issues. Mind you, I wonder if I could apply to be one of the “Scottish monarchy”